[HoustonHam] CQ Magazine Calls on FCC to Resume Amateur Enforcement

[Andre Van Wyk]

I hope the new successor will be working harder with his Canadian 
counterpart to do something about the fruitcake on 14.270 too......


Chris Boone wrote:
>
> About time SOMEONE called for this---too much crap starting to happen 
> in the ham bands again (especially poor operators who ignore the rules 
> of IDing, what and when to transmit, etc….some starting to sound like 
> CB…or EVEN worse!! of course with no code and 1day VE test sessions 
> that don’t teach anything technical BUT how to pass a test (big 
> whoop), should we be surprised?? Even without the code, my written 
> tests as a Novice, General and Advanced required me to THINK and 
> figure out the answers and there were no study guides with the ANSWERS 
> in them, which in my personal opinion is dumbing down the hobby; when 
> they know the answer but don’t know WHAT IT means, how can they say 
> they know the theory??……and in the Part 97 rules, it says the amateur 
> radio service is supposed to provide “Expansion of the existing 
> reservoir within the amateur radio service of trained operators, 
> technicians, and electronics experts” (Part 97.1.d). …I think that 
> stopped about the time the FCC started publicly publishing the answers 
> to the test…..about mid 80s iirc..After the FCC killed off the 
> Commercial Radio Telephone licenses…(made my hard earned commercial 
> ticket a worthless piece of paper).
>
> > NEWS RELEASE
>
> >
>
> > For more information, contact:
>
> > Richard Moseson (W2VU)
>
> > Editor, CQ Amateur Radio
>
> > (516) 681-2922 / w2vu at cq-amateur-radio.com 
> <mailto:w2vu at cq-amateur-radio.com>
>
> >
>
> > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 18, 2008
>
> >
>
> > CQ Magazine Calls on FCC to Resume Amateur Enforcement
>
> >
>
> > (Hicksville, NY November 18, 2008) -- CQ magazine is calling on FCC
>
> > Enforcement Bureau Chief Kris Monteith to move swiftly to name a
>
> > successor to Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, as Special Counsel for
>
> > Amateur Radio, and to bring FCC enforcement back to the ham bands.
>
> >
>
> > Writing in his "Zero Bias" editorial in the December 2008 issue, CQ
>
> > Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, noted that the Commission not only has
>
> > failed to name a successor to Hollingsworth, but that not a single
>
> > amateur enforcement action has been taken since his retirement this
>
> > past July. At that time, the editorial noted, the amateur radio
>
> > community was assured that the Commission's dedication to enhanced
>
> > enforcement in the Amateur Service remains strong. However, the FCC's
>
> > total inaction since July suggests otherwise.
>
> >
>
> > "This is deeply disturbing and of grave concern," wrote Moseson,
>
> > adding, "It would be a tragedy, and a travesty, if the FCC were to go
>
> > back on its promise to be there for us and allowed amateur enforcement
>
> > to once again drop off the radar."
>
> >
>
> > "The need for continuing amateur enforcement was reinforced after the
>
> > issue was went to press when CQ was informed of an outburst of racist
>
> > diatribes on 20 meters, including the transmission of recordings of a
>
> > Hitler rally and Nazi marching songs. "This type of behavior was all
>
> > too common before 'Sheriff' Riley came to town a decade ago," noted
>
> > Moseson, "and it quickly disappeared once it became obvious that
>
> > someone in authority was paying attention. But now, only a matter of
>
> > months since Riley handed in his badge, it has become obvious to these
>
> > hams that they are once again free to do whatever they please without
>
> > fear of any consequences."
>
> >
>
> > "The FCC must get back into the amateur enforcement business, and it
>
> > must do so quickly," says Moseson, "before the situation once again
>
> > gets out of control. Enforcement Bureau Chief Monteith must act
>
> > promptly to name a successor to Riley Hollingsworth and assure
>
> > amateurs that they have not once again been abandoned by the
>
> > Commission."
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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